Baby Keem facts for kids

Hykeem Jamaal Carter Jr. (born October 22, 2000), who is known by his stage name Baby Keem, is an American rapper and music producer. He first became known for helping his famous cousin, Kendrick Lamar, on the Black Panther movie soundtrack. He also worked with other major artists like Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, and Beyoncé.

Baby Keem's own music started getting popular with his 2019 song "Orange Soda". This song was a huge success and was certified quadruple platinum, which means it sold millions of copies.

In 2021, he released his first big album, The Melodic Blue. It was a hit with both fans and critics, reaching number five on the Billboard 200 music chart. A song from the album called "Family Ties" won a Grammy Award. He has also worked on albums by Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar, which earned him nominations for the Album of the Year Grammy.

Early Life and Beginnings

Hykeem Jamaal Carter Jr. was born in Carson, California, in 2000. He grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, where his grandmother raised him. His childhood was not always easy, and his family sometimes faced money troubles.

Music was a big part of his family. Many of his relatives, including his cousins Kendrick Lamar and basketball player Nick Young, were involved in music or sports. Keem was interested in rapping from a young age but waited until his voice got deeper to start.

When he was 13, he started making his own music beats on his computer. At 15, he bought a small recording setup and started making music in his bedroom. He also enjoyed playing video games like Fortnite and Minecraft and would sometimes stream his gameplay online. After his music started to get noticed, he moved to Los Angeles to focus on his career.

Music Career

First Steps in Music (2017–2018)

Baby Keem started releasing music under his real name in 2017. His first project was an extended play (EP) called Oct. An EP is like a short album with just a few songs. He released another EP called Midnight in 2018. He later said these early projects were just him putting out songs he liked, without a big plan.

A major step in his career was when he started producing music for the record label Top Dawg Entertainment. He helped produce songs for the soundtrack of the superhero movie Black Panther. He also produced songs for rapper Jay Rock's album Redemption. In October 2018, he released his first mixtape, The Sound of Bad Habit, using his new stage name, Baby Keem.

Breakthrough Success (2019–2020)

In 2019, Baby Keem's career took off. He produced songs for Schoolboy Q's album Crash Talk and for Beyoncé's soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift. That same year, he released his second mixtape, ... for My ....

The most popular song from this mixtape was "Orange Soda". It became a surprise hit and was his first song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. To support the mixtape, he went on his first concert tour.

In 2020, it was announced that Keem was working with PGLang, a company started by his cousin Kendrick Lamar. He was also named to XXL magazine's Freshman Class list, which highlights new and exciting rappers.

The Melodic Blue and Recent Work (2021–Present)

In 2021, Baby Keem was featured on the song "Praise God" from Kanye West's album Donda. Soon after, he released his first official studio album, The Melodic Blue. The album was very successful, reaching number five on the Billboard 200 chart.

Two songs from the album, "Durag Activity" with Travis Scott and "Family Ties" with Kendrick Lamar, became very popular. In 2022, "Family Ties" won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance.

Keem also worked on Kendrick Lamar's 2022 album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers and was an opening act for Lamar's world tour. In 2023, Keem and Lamar released a song together called "The Hillbillies". Keem also released a short film based on his album The Melodic Blue. In 2024, he announced that his second album, Child with Wolves, is on the way.

Musical Style and Influences

One of Baby Keem's biggest musical influences is the artist Kid Cudi. He was inspired by how Kid Cudi expressed emotions in his music. He also grew up listening to Kanye West's album 808s & Heartbreak and was inspired by its unique sound. Keem has said he looks up to Kanye West for always trying new things in music.

Discography

Studio albums

• The Melodic Blue (2021)
• Child with Wolves (TBA)

Filmography

Film

Tours

Headlining

• ... for My ... Tour (2019)
• The Melodic Blue Tour (2021–2022)

Supporting

• Kendrick Lamar – The Big Steppers Tour (2022)

Awards and nominations